Correct...and they are shifting the rules which suggests that what has been described as "loyalty" is not necessarily a good thing to the company. I don't think any agent should be rude to a customer but after a few times of calling back and asking for the same favor eventually someone has to tell the person to cut it out.
If that's the only benefit you care about then perhaps it is time to reevaluate your choice in travel providers. Especially if you are taking connections all the time anyways. But there are many other benefits which come with the status levels, including the bending of rules occasionally which you seem to have benefitted from more than once based on your original post.